Sangakkara - 'It's a batsman's dream'
After a long day in the field on the first day of the second Test in Colombo, Kumar Sangakkara, the centurymaker, and Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, spoke to the press
Charlie Austin
11-Aug-2004
After a long day in the field on the first day of the second Test in Colombo, Kumar Sangakkara, the centurymaker, and Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, spoke to the press:
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Kumar Sangakkara
On being dropped
One of the things you look at when you bat is that when you get a second chance you make the other side pay. It is something I haven't done in the past, but it was good to go on and be not out at the end of the day.
One of the things you look at when you bat is that when you get a second chance you make the other side pay. It is something I haven't done in the past, but it was good to go on and be not out at the end of the day.
On his innings
When you score runs you always enjoy it. That's one of the key things. It's hard work at times when you don't get easy runs, but if you work through that, there comes a time when you hit everything wherever you want to, and you really start enjoying it.
When you score runs you always enjoy it. That's one of the key things. It's hard work at times when you don't get easy runs, but if you work through that, there comes a time when you hit everything wherever you want to, and you really start enjoying it.
On his early arrival at the crease
It was unfortunate to get Marvan [Atappatu] caught behind in the first over as he is a bloke who would probably have got 200 on this wicket if he had got in. Sanath [Jayasuriya] and especially Mahela [Jayawardene] did a fantastic job for us. We were unlucky to have Mahela dismissed before the end of play, but Vaasy is as solid as any batsmen. We will try and work through the first half-hour and see where it gets us.
It was unfortunate to get Marvan [Atappatu] caught behind in the first over as he is a bloke who would probably have got 200 on this wicket if he had got in. Sanath [Jayasuriya] and especially Mahela [Jayawardene] did a fantastic job for us. We were unlucky to have Mahela dismissed before the end of play, but Vaasy is as solid as any batsmen. We will try and work through the first half-hour and see where it gets us.
On day two
Hopefully I will get a third double-hundred. It comes to mind when you look at the scoreboard. If we can see Pollock, Ntini and Hayward off early we can get a big first-innings total and put pressure right back on them.
Hopefully I will get a third double-hundred. It comes to mind when you look at the scoreboard. If we can see Pollock, Ntini and Hayward off early we can get a big first-innings total and put pressure right back on them.
On South Africa's tactics
It was surprising to see a negative approach right from the start. We lost the first wicket in the first over, and the pressure was right on us to get a big score batting first on this track. But there weren't many catchers behind the wicket and lots of guys were saving boundaries. It allowed us to work through that difficult period, get our singles and rotate the strike, which took the pressure off. They tried to stop us from scoring quickly and to get us to make a few mistakes. But I think we settled down pretty well. We put the bad ball away, and basically that's what you look for when you have tight fields.
It was surprising to see a negative approach right from the start. We lost the first wicket in the first over, and the pressure was right on us to get a big score batting first on this track. But there weren't many catchers behind the wicket and lots of guys were saving boundaries. It allowed us to work through that difficult period, get our singles and rotate the strike, which took the pressure off. They tried to stop us from scoring quickly and to get us to make a few mistakes. But I think we settled down pretty well. We put the bad ball away, and basically that's what you look for when you have tight fields.
On the pitch
It's a batsman's dream, the kind you want to roll up, take home and bring back every day. It has more pace than at Galle and hopefully our spinners will be able to get a bit more bite out of this one. It will probably get a bit slower and hopefully Vaasy with his reverse and Malinga with his pace might get us a few early wickets.
It's a batsman's dream, the kind you want to roll up, take home and bring back every day. It has more pace than at Galle and hopefully our spinners will be able to get a bit more bite out of this one. It will probably get a bit slower and hopefully Vaasy with his reverse and Malinga with his pace might get us a few early wickets.
On the possibility of a first series win against South Africa
We are very hungry to win a series against them. We had a chance in 2000 and we didn't take it. This time, it is up for grabs and the guys want it.
We are very hungry to win a series against them. We had a chance in 2000 and we didn't take it. This time, it is up for grabs and the guys want it.
Graeme Smith
On a tough day in the field
It was really hot today and Sri Lanka got the best of the wicket again. They got off to a good start and for us it was a day of missed chances. If we had taken one or two of those chances we could have been through to their middle order, and there was a chance that we could have had them five or six wickets down at the close. But we missed two chances in the middle session that put us on the back foot. There is still an opportunity for us to come back tomorrow and knock a few over to make it interesting again.
It was really hot today and Sri Lanka got the best of the wicket again. They got off to a good start and for us it was a day of missed chances. If we had taken one or two of those chances we could have been through to their middle order, and there was a chance that we could have had them five or six wickets down at the close. But we missed two chances in the middle session that put us on the back foot. There is still an opportunity for us to come back tomorrow and knock a few over to make it interesting again.
On the pitch
The wicket is going to play well for most of the Test match. I think it is a better wicket than the one in Galle - so if we put our heads down we can bat well also.
The wicket is going to play well for most of the Test match. I think it is a better wicket than the one in Galle - so if we put our heads down we can bat well also.
On Sangakkara and Jayawardene's performance
I thought they played well, although I was surprised that they went into their shell a bit against our part-timers, and I think that cost them the wicket at the end of the day. But we could have had both of them and on a wicket this good you can't miss chances. We let ourselves down and were not ruthless enough, and we are paying for that now
I thought they played well, although I was surprised that they went into their shell a bit against our part-timers, and I think that cost them the wicket at the end of the day. But we could have had both of them and on a wicket this good you can't miss chances. We let ourselves down and were not ruthless enough, and we are paying for that now
On Nantie Hayward's performance
I was a little bit disappointed with Nantie who, despite struggling with a virus and being on the toilet all day, didn't bowl well enough.
I was a little bit disappointed with Nantie who, despite struggling with a virus and being on the toilet all day, didn't bowl well enough.
On whether the decision to drop a bowler backfired
I don't think our bowlers bowled enough in the last Test match. There were too many guys who bowled five or six overs. We went in here with a compact attack and added on an extra batter. Tomorrow, when we are batting, it is important that we get the runs on the board.
I don't think our bowlers bowled enough in the last Test match. There were too many guys who bowled five or six overs. We went in here with a compact attack and added on an extra batter. Tomorrow, when we are batting, it is important that we get the runs on the board.
On Murali's absence
I was disappointed, as you always want to play against the best. It is unfortunate for a world-class performer to get an injury.
I was disappointed, as you always want to play against the best. It is unfortunate for a world-class performer to get an injury.